Windows 8: Enable the hidden Administrator Account

Windows 8 just like its predecessor Windows 7 ships with an administrator account that is disabled by default. While it is not suggested to enable and use the administrators on a day to day basis, it can be used for a variety of purposes. One of the reasons is to use it as a fallback account in case you can’t log in to a regular user account, or for tasks that require administrative privileges.

When you list the accounts in the user accounts control panel applet, you will notice that the hidden administrator account is not listed there while the guest account that is also disabled is. It is easier to enable the administrator account if you can still log in to Windows with another administrator account.

You need to run the command from an elevated command prompt. To do that you need to do the following:

Press the Windows key to get into the Metro interface if you are not already there.Enter cmd and right-click on the Command Prompt result that should appear.This opens a list of options at the bottom. Select Run as administrator there.Accept the UAC prompt

Enter the following command to enable the hidden administrator account: net user administrator /active:yes

If you ever want to disable the account follow the same instructions, but run the following command instead: net user administrator /active:no

Once you have enabled the account, you will see it listed in the user accounts control panel applet. Note that the account has not assigned a password to it, and that you should consider setting one to improve account security.

If you have forgotten your account password and can’t log in to the system anymore, you may use the administrator account to get back into the system. Please note that it may be easier to request the password to be reset if you are using a Microsoft Account password to log in. You can for instance request that from a different system or your smartphone.

If you can’t sign in anymore you can still recover the system from that by enabling the hidden administrator account. The process itself requires you to download the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor which is available as an ISO image that you can burn to CD or DVD, and a file that you can install on an USB Flash Drive. You then need to boot from the selected device to see a DOS-like interface where you need to run a series of command in to restore the user account. Here are the steps that you need to complete:

First screen, press enter to continueSelect the hard drive that your Windows installation is installed on. This may take some time to get right depending on the number of partitions on the PC as it is using the “Linux-way” of listing the hard drives.You then need to enter the path to the Registry. I’d recommend to tap on enter to try the default path first which usually is detected correctly by the program.Press qSelect the Password Reset option (1)Enter Administrator as the user account that you want to modify.Select the unlock and enable user account option (4)Use ! and q to end the editing and save the values

Restart the PC and make sure you are booting from the operating system’s drive again. You should now see the administrator account listed on the sign in page. Select it to regain access to the system. From there, you can change other account passwords or run administrative tasks to restore access to the PC. (thanks Caschy)

Instead of enabling the hidden administrator account, you could as easily create a new user account with administrative privileges on the system. You could then use that account to log in if there is an emergency and you can’t sign in with your regular account anymore.

You also need to know that changing the password of a user account may have an impact on the files accessible to that account. This is especially true if encryption was used. If that is the case, the files may not be accessible anymore after the account password has been changed.

I’d generally recommend to create a second “regular” administrator account for the purpose of recovery than enabling the hidden administrator account. The core reason for this is that the hidden account has additional privileges that other administrator accounts do not have.

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About the Author:Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.Author: Martin Brinkmann, Monday June 11, 2012 -
Tags:administrator, windows tips

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How to Create a Hidden Encrypted Volume With True Crypt

A judge recently ordered a US citizen to decrypt storage space on a computer so that police forces could analyze protected files on the system. In this particular case, the defendant was ordered to decrypt the hard drive of her Toshiba notebook no later than February 21, or face the consequences “including contempt of court”.

The ruling may still get overturned, but at this point in time it is not clear how this will turn out.

Encryption makes sure that only authorized users can enable access to data provided that there is no loophole or backdoor built-into the software itself. People traveling to the US may have their mobile computers analyzed by federal agents even without probable cause.

Users have a number of options at their disposal to protect their data from prying eyes. Encryption for instance requires a pass phrase or key to be entered to decrypt the contents of the storage device. If you forget the password, you cannot open the encrypted contents anymore.

There is however a better option for users who want to make sure that they private files stay personal. True Crypt supports so called hidden volumes. These volumes are encrypted volumes inside an encrypted volume. True Crypt calls the concept plausible deniability. You put your important files into the hidden volume, and other files that you do not mind to share with others in the regular encrypted container. When someone asks you to decrypt your data, you enter the password to decrypt the first volume that you do not mind sharing with anyone.

It may happen that you are forced by somebody to reveal the password to an encrypted volume. There are many situations where you cannot refuse to reveal the password (for example, due to extortion). Using a so-called hidden volume allows you to solve such situations without revealing the password to your volume.

The principle is that a TrueCrypt volume is created within another TrueCrypt volume (within the free space on the volume). Even when the outer volume is mounted, it should be impossible to prove whether there is a hidden volume within it or not*, because free space on any TrueCrypt volume is always filled with random data when the volume is created** and no part of the (dismounted) hidden volume can be distinguished from random data. Note that TrueCrypt does not modify the file system (information about free space, etc.) within the outer volume in any way.

Hidden volumes can be created quite easily in True Crypt. New True Crypt users should read through the tutorial posted on the site first to understand the basics of creating encrypted volumes on the computer.

You have the option to create both volumes in one go though, by following the process outlined below. Click on Tools > Volume Creation Wizard. You have two options now how to proceed:

Create an encrypted file container: This option can be used to create an encrypted file on one of the computer’s hard drive and add a hidden file container to it, or add a hidden file container to an existing encrypted file.Encrypt non-system partition/drive: This is basically the same option as above, only that it works partitions and hard drives, and not with files. Please note that all contents of the selected hard drive/partition will get deleted in the process.

I suggest you start with an encrypted file container to see how the process works.

Select Hidden TrueCrypt volume on the next page

Now you have the option to select normal or direct mode. Normal mode creates both the outer and the hidden volume in the process, while direct mode creates a hidden volume inside an existing True Crypt file container.

Lets pick normal mode to demonstrate how both the standard encrypted container and the hidden container within are created.

You now need to select a file name for the outer container. Pick any directory and file name that you want. You can use the file name to your advantage, for instance by making it a .tmp file or a .avi.

You are then asked to select the encryption algorithm and hash algorithm for the outer volume. Pick one each or keep the default settings.

You are then asked to select a size for the file container. Keep in mind that the hidden volume is added to this container file as well. Select a password on the next screen. This password is used to decrypt the files stored in the outer volume. The volume will be formatted afterwards. Move your mouse around to create random values. Click on Format afterwards to create the file. Depending on the size, you may need to switch the file system from FAT to NTFS.

Now that you have created the outer volume, you move on to the next step, the creation of the hidden volume.

The process is nearly identical. You first select the encryption and hash algorithms, then the file size. True Crypt will display the maximum possible hidden volume file size on that screen. Don’t select the maximum if you plan on adding files to the outer volume as well.

The remaining steps are identical. You now have one outer volume, one hidden volume and two pass phrases to decrypt the volumes on your computer.

Mounting the hidden volume

To mount either the outer or hidden volume do the following:

Select a free drive letter in the True Crypt interface.Click on Select File and browse to the encrypted file that you want to mount.click on mount afterwards.Enter the pass phrase for the outer volume to mount it, or the password for the hidden volume to mount it instead.

If you mount the outer volume you may want to click on mount options to check the “protect hidden volume against damage caused by writing to outer volume” box to avoid to protect the hidden container from being partially or fully overwritten. You need to supply the hidden volume password though for this option.

The very same principle applies to the creation of a hidden volume inside an encrypted partition or hard drive.

What’s your take on this new ruling?

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter. Disguising True Crypt Volumes In MP4 Videos
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Incorrect Password Or Not A True Crypt Volume [Troubleshooting] About the Author:Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.Author: Martin Brinkmann, Tuesday January 24, 2012 -
Tags:encryption, true-crypt

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Lioness Hidden Treasures - Amy Winehouse and Lioness Hidden Treasures On Sale

Amongst the controversial components of stars that die at or outside the peak on their careers is definitely the inevitable posthumous details reveals previously recorded, unreleased material. Some argue, such as in the outcome from any Winehouse's upcoming release "Lioness: Hidden Treasures", that any unpolished material that may be released with no stamp of approval belonging to the artist is an insult to hard-core fans, who state that without the presence of direction with the artist, the album may be a pale shadow of the items would have been produced that the artist had been living. However, sleep issues notes make fish an artist never really considers any song as "done", and also that such releases impart us with an uncommon glimpse inside the artist's mind.

However, the music industry usually plays by their particular rules, and also the unreleased archival material at a deceased artist generally represents a lucrative future revenue stream. Michael Jackson, from the two yearsrrr time since his death, has reportedly earned over $300 million for his estate. Not bad for any guy who had been more or less broke previous to his death. The reality is that any artist's death immediately tips the provision and demand scales, sending fans into an eager frenzy, in a position to part with any amount of greenbacks to be able to hang on to whatever musical mementos they are.

With a case the place deceased artist's complete discography is only two studio albums and ten singles, a posthumous album like Amy Winehouse's "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" is known as a rare gem and is particularly apt to be highly desired by new and old fans alike. The album is usually a twelve-track bunch of previously unreleased originals, covers, alternative versions and demos of songs that showcase the very best of what Amy been required to offer, when she might put her whole heart into her singing.

Many would reason that this can be the best representation associated with an artist's talent; the raw, unpolished work that took form as demos one more unfinished songs give to us snapshots belonging to the creative process, and give us some guidance for the way an artist gives birth with their creations. And perchance this really is how most artists would love to be remembered; not because of their on-stage and off-stage antics, but also for the love and pain that they can poured within their music and the craft, for who else nonetheless fans.

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